Reich writes: "The HEROES Act, passed by the House in May, provides $3.6 billion for states to administer the 2020 elections and $25 billion for the Postal Service (which will run out of money by the end of September). But Mitch McConnell has blocked the bill in the Senate."
Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich. (photo: Steve Russell/Toronto Star)
05 July 20
e're fast approaching crunch time on voting by mail.
The HEROES Act, passed by the House in May, provides $3.6 billion for states to administer the 2020 elections and $25 billion for the Postal Service (which will run out of money by the end of September).
But Mitch McConnell has blocked the bill in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Trump is continuing to allege -- with no evidence -- widespread voter fraud if there's voting by mail in November. And his morally-bankrupt Attorney General William Barr is parroting Trump's baseless attacks.
Mark my words: Trump’s false claims are designed both to suppress the November vote, and also to lay the groundwork for attacking the legitimacy of the presidential election results should he lose.
After Congress returns from its recess on July 20, only two weeks remain to resolve differences between McConnell and the House. The wild card will be the erratic, narcissistic occupant of the Oval Office, and whether he makes an all-out effort to block the funding.
Let there be no doubt: The coming fight for funding to effectively administer the upcoming election is a battle that must be won if we are to prevent chaos in November.
RR
